Zapmail was a service, launched in 1984 by Federal Express (FedEx) whereby fax transmission was offered to customers as a means to expedite delivery of documents.
[2] For higher volume users, FedEx would install a “Zapmailer” fax machine in the client's premises, usually in the mail room.
[3] The FedEx strategy was driven by an expectation that customers would pay a premium to have their documents delivered in hours instead of overnight.
At the same time, by migrating document traffic from trucks and aircraft, significant savings could be made in the FedEx transportation network.
Once this began to happen, customers could see that it was more cost effective to buy their own machine rather than pay for regular Zapmail services.